Collapsible crate.



No, 721,000. PATBNTED FEB.1"7,1903.

- w. B. BOUTWELL.

'GOLLAPSIBLB CRATE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED HOV. B, 1902. H0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 WWW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER B. BOUTWELL, OF LAVVRENGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,003, dated February 1'7, 1903. Application filed November 6,19Q2. Serial hi0. 130,296. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, WALTER B. BoUTwaLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of 7 formed of a number of bars or strips having their ends overlapped and .pivotally con-f nected by rods or bolts and which are reduced to a knockdown or collapsed condition by removing the top and bottom and pressing the sides together from diagonally opposite points, whereby corresponding parts are folded one upon the other.

The present invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully'hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a crate embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the crate shown in knockdown condition or collapsed. Fig. 4 is an edge elevation of the crate as shown by Fig. 3.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates the sides of the improved crate, which are all preferably of equal length and formed of a series of bars or slats 2, having their ends 3 overlapped and pivotally connected by bolt-rods 4, passing vertically downward therethroughf At upper and lower portions of two of the sides holding-strips 5 are terminally overlapped in relation to the bars or strips 2 and also secured by the bolt-rods 4. lit-intermediate points the bars or strips 2 mall the sides have brace-rods 6 passed therethrough, one at each side, to prevent the bars or strips 2, below the uppermost similar bar or strip on two of the sides and through the bars or strips of the remaining sides between the upper and The lower holding-strips 5, from warping out of shape or becoming bulged outwardly by pressure within the crate.

The improved crate is provided with a removable top and bottom 7 and 8, of duplicate construction, and each comprises a series of -strips'9, broader than the bars or strips 2, connected at opposite extremities by right-angularly-dispose'd stop-strips 10. The outer edges of the stripsdO are'at a distance from the terminals of the strips 9, so that the extremities of the top and bottom may engage the holding-strips 5, the said extremities of the top extending under the holdingstrip and the extremities of the bottom resting over its hold ing-s'trips, as fully shown by Fig. l. The stop-strips 10; terminate flush with the outer edges of the strips 9 at the outer portions of the top and bottom, and the outer edges of the outer strips of the latter snugly fit against the inner upper portions of the top bars or strips 2 of two of the sides. Extending across the centers of the strips 9 and secured thereto is a combined supporting and fulcrum strip 11, having its ends projected outwardly over the outer edges of the outer strips 9 to bear on the upper edges of the top bars or strips 2, inside of which said outer strips 9 are located. It will be understood that the top 7 will have the strips ll and 10 on the upper sides thereof and the bottom 8 will have said strips on the lower side. thereof, as clearly shown by Fig. 2.

'Iu attaching the top 7 and bottom 8 to the sides of the crate the one end of each of such devices is pushed in between the holding-strip 5 and the adjacent bar or strip 2 by pressing downwardly on one end of such device, and during this operation the combined supporting and fulcrum strip 11 will have its ends bearing on the edges of the bars or strips 2 with which it is adapted to normally engage. The one end of the bottom or top is pushed far enough between the adjacent strip 5 and bar or strip 2 to permit the opposite end of such bottom or'top to clear the inner-portion of the opposite strip 5 and depress below or above said opposite strip 5, as the case may be, in accordance with the application of the top or bottom. hen this position of the bottom or top has been obtained, it is pushed longitudinally or in the, direction of the length of the strips 9 until both ends are between the strips 5 and the adjacent bars or strips 2, but in close contact with said strips 5. When the top 7 and bottom 8 are assembled in connection with the crate, asj ust explained, the latter will be prevented from collapsing and may be shipped or otherwise transported from one place to another. When it is desired to collapse the crate, one end of the top or bottom is pushed inwardly into the crate and moved longitudinally to clear the opposite end, when a complete separation can ensue, and when both the top and bottom are detached the crate may be rested on one corner and pushed downwardly in a diagonal direction to compress the parts into compact form, as shown by Figs. 3 and 4:. The top and bottom may then be placed upon and fastened to the collapsed crate-body, and in this condition a number of the crates may be stored in compact form for reshipment or return to the owner, as well as to effect occupancy of a small space when not in use. When the top and bottom are applied to the crate, the stopstrips 10 prevent longitudinal displacement thereof, and the combined supporting and fulcrum strips 11 obstruct inward movement of the top or bottom into the body of the crate.

It is proposed to place cells of ordinary form within the crate and separate the same by the usual partitions, and instead of using the crate for packing and transporting eggs it may be employed for shipping other goods or fruits as well as poultry. The improved crate will be found exceptionally convenient, and changes in the proportions and dimensions may be made at will.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is A collapsible crate having holding-strips at the upper and lower portions of two sides thereof in spaced relation to members of the said sides, and a removable top and bottom, each having stop-strips adjacent the opposite ends and of a length to permit the said top and bottom to be pressed inwardly into the crate, and immovably-secured fulcrumstrips extending across the centers of the top and bottom and of greater length than the stop-strips, the fulcrum-strips also acting as supports for the top and bottom, whereby the latter may be depressed or pushed inwardly into the crate at either extremity for the purpose of applying and removing the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER B. BOUTWELL.

Witnesses:

CALEB SAUNDERS, MOSES H. AMES. 

